Apparatus for treating photographic sheet materials with a liquid



Aug. 13, 1968 R CHEN ET AL 3,396,648

APPARATUS FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIALS WITH A LIQUID 7Filed April 25, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWW/ff mvzmg M M 790M 6'. KM

ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1968 J CHEN ET AL 3,396,648

APPARATUS TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIALS WITH A LIQUID FiledApril 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREPhotographic apparatus for exposing and processing successive sectionsof a photo-sensitive sheet including an exposure system and a processingsection having a roll for applying a processing liquid to an exposedsection of said photosensitive sheet. A plate is positioned istangential contact with the roll to form a trough for receiving a supplyof the processing liquid and means are provided for moving the plate todischarge the processing liquid from the trough.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus for treating exposedphotosensitive image-recording sheet materials with a liquid processingagent, and particularly to apparatus for applying a non-viscous liquidagent to successive exposed areas of the image-recording sheetmaterials.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and improved photographicapparatus for applying a predetermined quantity of a liquid processingcomposition to each of a succession of photosensitive image-recordingsheets to effect the treatment of the sheets, preferably to producevisible images therein.

Liquid processing agents employed in photographic processes of the typeperformed by the apparatus of the invention are substantiallynon-viscous, i.e., have the viscosity of water, are highly alkaline, andhence corrosive,

and are subject to evaporation, deteriorationupon exposure to theatmosphere and contamination by residue of the liquid. The problemsattendant with applying such a liquid uniformly and in accuratelycontrolled quantities to successive exposed photosensitive sheets arecomplicated by the necessity for applying the liquid to generallyrectangular areas having well defined linear boundaries,

applying the liquid to areas of different lengths and at intervals ofwidely varying duration, storing the liquid in a protected environmentuntil applied to a sheet, and keep ing the components of the applicatorfree of residue of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for applying aliquid processing agent of the type and in the manner described, whileminimizing exposure of the liquid to the atmosphere and preventingcontamination of the liquid applied to each sheet by residue of theliquid remaining after application thereof to a preceding sheet.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing theconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which areexemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

For. a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 of the drawings is an enlarged sectional view of aportion ofphotographic apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of theapparatus shown in FIGURE 1; and

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FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of components of the apparatusof the invention.

The present invention is embodied in a liquid applicator deviceparticularly designed for incorporation in photographic exposure andprocessing apparatus of the type shown and described in'the copendingUS. patent application of Nicholas Gold et al., Ser. No. 544,774, filedon the same date herewith. Photographic apparatus of this type isparticularly designed for reproducing documents and comprises anexposure system including means for supporting successive sections of aphotosensitive sheet in position for exposure, means for locating asubject such as a document, page of a book, etc., in position forexposure, means for illuminating the subject, and an optical systemincluding an objective lens for producing an image of the subject on thesection of the photosensitive sheet positioned for exposure; and aprocessing system including means for severing each exposed section ofthe photosensitive sheet from the remainder of the sheet, applying aliquid processing agent at least to the exposed area of each section toeffect visible formation, and advancing the sheet through and from theapparatus.

Apparatus of this type, and particularly the processing section thereof,is especially adapted for use with photographic sheet materials andprocessing liquids and for performing photographic processes such as areshown and described in the copending US. applications Ser. No. 368,622of Edwin H. Land, and Ser. No. 368,621 of Edwin H. Land et al., bothfiled May 19, 1964. These applications describe acombination-image-recording and image-receiving sheet comprising asupport such as paper, at least one layer containing a light-sensitivematerial such as a silver halide emulsion, and an outer layer comprisinga translucent material such as finely divided titanium dioxide dispersedin a suitable, permeable, colloidal carrier or matrix such as gelatinwhich is permeable to an aqueous processing liquid. The translucentpigment may be incorporated in the layer containing the light-sensitivematerial and/or may comprise a separate outer layer which may alsocontain silver precipitating nuclei and is sufiiciently transparent topermit exposure of the light-sensitive layer therebeneath, while at thesame time, being sufliciently opaque to provide the requisite backgroundfor a positive silver image transferred thereto by diffusion and to maska negative image formed thereunder. Processing of the exposedimage-recording sheet is accomplished by applying an aqueous liquidincluding a silver halide complexing agent to the side of the sheetopposite the support so as to impregnate the light-sensitive layer withsufiicient processing liquid to produce a positive silver transfer imageon the surface of the translucent layer.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 of the drawings wherein there isillustrated the processing section of photographic apparatus of the typedescribed in the aforementioned Gold et al., application andincorporating the applicator device of the invention. The apparatusincludes a rotary knife 50 and anvil 52 between which successive exposedsections of a photosensitive image-recording sheet, designated 24, areadvanced upwardly from exposure position following exposure and a pairof juxtaposed feed rolls 64 and 66 mounted directly above the knife foradvancing each section from knife 50 upwardly into the portion of theprocessing section in which the processing liquid is applied to one sideof the exposed photosensitive sheet. The processing liquid is applied bya reverse roll coating technique in which the liquid is adhered to theperipheral surface of a rotating cylindrical applicator roll and thesheet is supported against the periphery of the roll and moved tangentto the roll surface in a direction opposite to the direction of movementof the roll surface for transferring the liquid from the roll to thesheet. The quantity of liquid applied to the of material being dependenton its compatibility with' the processing liquid to be applied.

Processing liquid is adhered to the applicator roll for transfer to asheet by rotating the applicator roll with in a container or troughcontaining the processing liquid so that the peripheral surface of theapplicator roll is advanced upwardly from beneath the surface of theliquid and thence into contact with the surface of a sheet advanced inthe opposite direction. This container or trough for the processingliquid is designated 62 in the drawings and is definedon onelongitudinal side bythe periphery of the roll itself, and on theopposite side by a generally flat plate 58 mounted intermediate itsedges beneath the applicator roll 'for pivotable movement about an axissubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the applicator roll.Trough 62 is generally V-shaped in cross-section, and has a length atleast equal to the length of the portion of the cylindrical peripheralsurface of the roll adapted to apply the processing liquid. A pair ofend members 60 are mounted in engagement with the ends of thecylindrical portion of roll 56 and the ends of plate 58 and provide theends of the trough while permitting rotation of the roll and pivotalmovement of plate 58.

Plate 58 is pivotable between the operative position shown in which itis located with its upper surface in tangential contact with the rollalong a horizontal line extending from one end member 60 to the otherand cooperates with the end members and roll to form trough 62; and aninoperative position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, in which theportion of plate 58 on one side of its pivotal axis and defining oneside of the trough, is pivoted from contact with the roll downwardlybeneath the pivotal axis of the plate. During application of theprocessing liquid to a sheet, roll 56 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to apply the liquid in trough 62 as a thin layer to theperipheral surface of the roll as the latter moves upwardly out of theliquid.

Because of its nature, the processing liquid is stored in a containerout of contact with the atmosphere and is dispensed from the containerinto trough 62 immediately prior to application to a sheet and then onlyin the approximate amount required. A valve 96 located above trough 62is provided for dispensing predetermined quantities of the processingliquid into the trough. To insure uniform application of a predeterminedquantity of the processing liquid over a predetermined area of a sheet,the amount of liquid dispensed into trough 62 is slightly in excess ofthe amount required so that provision must be made for emptying thetrough of any excess liquid following each operation as well as removingresidual liquid from the applicator roll to prevent contamination of theliquid applied to the next succeeding sheet. After each applicationoperation, plate 58 is pivoted to its inoperative position for thepurpose of dumping excess liquid from trough 62 into an open container63 provided beneath the plate for collecting unused liquid. An elongatedscraper blade 65 is mounted on plate 58 near a longitudinal'edge of theplate for engaging the peripheral surface of the roll along alongitudinal line extending from end-to-end thereof, when the plate ispivoted into its inoperative position, and removing residual processingliquid from the roll. Blade 65 is preferably formed of a resilientmaterial having a low coeflicient of friction and compatible with theprocessing liquid, organic plastics such as polytetrafiuoroethylenebeing especially suited for this purpose. Liquid removed from the rollby the scraper blade is also collected in container '63 from whence thesolvent, e.g., water, permitted to evaporate.

A sheet to be coated on one side with the processing liquid is advancedupwardly at an angle tangent to the surface of the applicator rollby-rotation :of feed rolls 64 and 66, and guides 68 and 70 are piovidedon opposite sides of the path of movement ojfithe sheet between the feedrolls for guiding the. sheet. .along apath tangent with the portion ofthe peripheral .surfaceof the applicator roll lying opposite trough 62."The applicator device also includes means in the form of a backing roll72 mounted for rotation in juxtaposition with applicator roll 56 forguiding and supporting the sheets against the applicator roll. Means areprovided for rotating roll 72 in order to facilitate advancement of,each sheet ,upwardly against the applicator r-oll during application ofliquid to the sheet.

The sheet, following application of liquid thereto, is moved'upwardlyfrom lbetweenthe applicator and backing rolls into the nip 'of a pair ofwringer rolls 76 and 78 which function to remove excess processingliquid from the sheet and continue the upward advancement of 'the sheetalong a predetermined path through the apparatus to provide animbibition period during which processing of the sheet, i.e., visibleimage formation, occurs. Guides 74 are provided on opposite sides of thepath of movement of the sheets for guiding each sheet from theapplicator roll into the nip of rolls 76 and 78. A scraper blade 79 ismounted in engagement with roll 78 for removing processing liquidadhering to the surface thereof, and this processing liquid is alsocollected in container 63.

Processing of each sheet requires that the sheet remain in a light-freeenvironment during an imbibition period of predetermined duration, andfor this purpose the apparatus includes means defining a path ofpredetermined length along which each sheet is advanced from betweenrolls 76 and 78 within the apparatus at a speed calculated to providethe necessary imbibition time. These means comprise a plurality ofcircular discs 80 mounted for rotation in axially spaced relation on ashaft 82, and a plurality of endless belts 84, each including a portionsupported on the periphery of one of discs 80' and a return portionsupported on pulleys 86, 87, 88, and 90. Each sheet 24 is advanced byrolls 76 and 78 upwardly between discs 80 and belt 84. The pulleys 86and the belts are advanced to rotate the discs in a counterclockwisedirection to move the sheet gripped therebeneath along a circular patharound the peripheries of the discs and thence downwardly fromengagement with the discs and through an opening in the housing locatedbeneath and adjacent pulleys 90. I

A switch is mounted on shaft 82 and includes an operating lever 102located in the path of movement of the sheets for controlling theoperation of knife 50. A disc 104 including a portion projecting throughan opening 106 in the upper wall of the apparatus is mounted on shaft 82and provides manual means for varyu'ng the position of switch 100 andthe operation of the knife to control the length of each sheetprocessed.

The applicator device of the invention comprises a simple, efiective andreliable structure for applying uniformly distributed and accuratelypredetermined quantities of liquid processing composition to successivephotosensitive sheets while protecting the liquid from exposure to theatmosphere, minimizing waste liquid, and removing residual liquid fromthe applicator between successiveoperations to prevent contamination ofthe liquid.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus. withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense. 1

What is claimed is:

1. For use in photographic apparatus for exposing and processingphotosensitive sheet materials, processing means for applying aprocessing liquid to successive exposed sections of a photosensitivesheet comprising, in

combination: t

an applicator having a substantially cylindrical section mounted forrotation about a substantially horizontal a member having a surfaceinclined with respect to horizontal and including a section positionedin tangential contact with the peripheral surface of said cylindricalsection along at least an axial line extending from end-to-end of saidcylindrical section for substantially preventing the flow of processingliquid therebetween and cooperating withthe portion of said peripheralsurface above said line to form a trough;

means for rotating said peripheral surface of said applicator rollupwardly in contact with said processing liquid in said trough and in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said sheet past saidapplicator roll;

means engaging the ends of said cylindrical section and said member forpreventing escape of said processing liquid at the ends of said trough;

means [for moving a sheet relative to and in contact with saidperipheral surface; and

means for moving said member to separate said section of said surfacethereof from said peripheral surface and discharge said liquid from saidtrough.

2. Processing means as defined in claim 1 including means for engagingsaid cylindrical section along a second axial line ahead of thefirst-mentioned line for removing said processing liquid from saidperipheral surface.

3. In photographic apparatus for exposing and processing photosensitivesheet material, processing means for applying a liquid to an exposedphotosensitive sheet comprising, in combination:

a substantially cylindrical applicator roll mounted for rota-tion abouta substantially horizontal axis;

means for moving an exposed photosensitive sheet tangent to and incontact with the peripheral surface of said roll;

a member mounted beneath said roll [for pivotal movement about an axissubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said roll;

said member being pivotal between a first position in which the uppersurface of said member is inclined with respect to horizontal and saidsurface of a section of said member on one side of said pivotal axis istangent with said surface of said roll at a line of contact locatedabove said pivotal axis and cooperates with said roll to define a troughbetween said roll and said member and for substantially preventing theflow of processing liquid therebetween, and a second position in whichsaid upper surface of said section of said member is inclined withrespect to horizontal away from said roll and located beneath saidpivotal axis;

means for rotating said peripheral surface of said applicator rollupwardly in contact with said processing liquid in said trough and in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said sheet past saidapplicator roll; and

means for introducing a predetermined quantity of processing liquid intosaid trough defined by said roll and said member.

4. In photographic apparatus for exposing and processing photosensitivesheet material, processing means for applying a liquid to an exposedphotosensitive sheet comprising, in combination: 4

a substantially cylindrical applicator roll mounted for rotation about asubstantially horizontal axis;

means for rotating said roll;

means for moving an exposed photosensitive sheet tangent to and incontact with the peripheral surface of said roll;

a member mounted beneath said roll for pivotal move- 5 ment about anaxis substantially parallel with the I axis of rotation of said roll;

said member being pivotal between a first position in which the uppersurface of said member is inclined with respect to horizontal and saidsurface of a section of said member on one side of said pivotal axis istangent with said surface of said roll at a line of contact locatedabove said pivotal aixs and cooperates with said roll to define a trough'between said roll and said member, and a second position in which saidupper surface of said section of said member is inclined with respect tohorizontal away from said roll and located beneath said pivotal axis,said member including a second section located to the side of saidpivotal axis opposite the first-mentioned section of said member forengaging said surface of said roll in said second position of saidmember to remove said liquid from said surface of said roll; and

means for introducing a predetermined quantity of processing liquid intosaid trough defined by said roll and said member.

5. In apparatus including a rotary roll for applying liquid to a surfacemoved relative to and in contact with a peripheral surface of said roll,means for applying liquid to said peripheral surface of said roll duringrotation thereof comprising, in combination:

a member mounted beneath said roll for pivotal movement about an axissubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said roll, saidmember including a section having an upper surface for engaging saidroll along an axial line for substantially preventing the flow of aprocessing liquid therebetween;

means for pivoting said member between a first position in which saidupper surface of said member is inclined with respect to horizontal andsaid surface of said section is tangent with said peripheral surface ofsaid roll at a line of contact located above and to one side of thepivotal axis of said member, and a second position in which said uppersurface of said section of said member is inclined with respect tohorizontal away from said roll and is located beneath said pivotal axis;

said upper surface of said section and said peripheral surface of saidroll cooperating in said first position of said member to define atrough between said 50 member and said roll;

means for rotating said peripheral surface of said applicator rollupwardly in contact with said processing liquid in said trough and in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said sheet past saidapplicator roll; and

means for introducing a predetermined quantity of processing liquid intosaid trough defined by said roll and said member.

6. For use in photographic apparatus for exposing and processingphotosensitive sheet materials, processing means for applying aprocessing liquid to successive exposed sections of a photosensitivesheet comprising, in combination:

an applicator having a substantially cylindrical sec- 65 tion mountedfor rotation about a substantially horizontal axis; means for rotatingsaid applicator;

a member having a surface inclined with respect to horizontal .andincluding a section positioned in tangential contact with the peripheralsurface of said cylindrical section along at least an axial lineextending from end-to-end of said cylindrical section and cooperatingwith the portion of said peripheral surface above said line to form atrough;

means engaging the ends of said cylindrical section and said member forpreventing escape of said processing liquid at the ends of said trough;

means for moving a sheet relative to and in contact with said peripheralsurface;

means for moving said member to separate said sec tion of said surfacethereof from said peripheral surface and discharge said liquid from saidtrough; and

means for engaging said cylindrical section along a second axial lineahead of the first-mentioned line for removing said processing liquidfrom said pe- 10 7. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 4including means located beneath said first-mentioned section of saidmember for receiving liquid running off said member when said member isin said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,103 5/1961 Roozee 101-4253,199,451 8/1965 Nitchie 118-259 FOREIGN PATENTS 551,598 1/1958 Canada.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. G. M. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner.

